Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Ex-NSW governor honoured at Mardi Gras

Hordes of spectators have packed into Sydney's city centre for the annual smorgasbord of sequins and flesh that is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Saturday's celebration kicked off - as always - with a convoy of Dykes on Bikes.

As night fell, the riders were followed down Oxford Street by this year's lead float, the First Australians Freedom Riders bus, designed to celebrate Australia's indigenous people and the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides.

Among this year's partiers was Gaston, from Argentina, who told AAP he was nervous about his first march in the pride parade.

His beau Bruno, a Sydneysider, already has four parades under his skimpy belt.

He joined the festivities clad in little more than green body paint and liberal dashes of glitter.